Development and evaluation of the new module 'communication disorders' in medical education.
BACKGROUND
Communication disorders are not taught as a self-contained topic in medical education, despite their high incidence and the similarities in the way in which they present clinically.


OBJECTIVE
This article describes the development of an elective subject 'Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology' covering five topics: hearing, language, and voice as well as psychometric tests and swallowing, with the objective of teaching a basic knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the hearing and language system as well as symptoms, diagnostics, examination, and therapy of communication disorders. It contains theoretical background, practical exercises, and demonstrations of patient examinations.


METHODS
After initial modifications to the course, a statistical evaluation of the last two half-years in 2006 was performed.


RESULTS
The majority of students believe that the subject will be useful in their subsequent studies (94.2%) and medical practice (51.9%). All students affirmed that their expectations had been met by the course and they would choose it again.


CONCLUSIONS
Uniting several communication disorders within a self-contained topic provides the opportunity to understand pathophysiological principles, similarities, and differences between normal and impaired function of the hearing and language system and voice production. In the authors' opinion, it is a reasonable inclusion in medical training recognizing the importance of communication in today's service society.
Deuster
Dirk
D
Department of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology, University Hospital of Muenster, Germany. d.deuster@uni-muenster.de
am Zehnhoff-Dinnesen
Antoinette
A
Schmidt
Claus-Michael
CM
Matulat
Peter
P
Huebner
Jan R
JR
Reichmuth
Karen
K
Fiori
Anja
A
Knief
Arne
A
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult